Xbox One Kinect will work with Windows 8 thanks to new adapter

Microsoft has surprisingly launched a new adapter for the Kinect sensor for Xbox One, allowing it to be used with Windows 8 and 8.1 devices.

The $50 (around £30) adapter connects to a PC or tablet via USB 3.0 and allows early Xbox One adopters to easily convert their v2 Kinect sensor for use beyond the console.

Considering Microsoft appears to be moving away from game and software development for the Kinect sensor, the adapter could give the device a renewed purpose for PC users.

The adapter will work seamlessly according to Microsoft, with Windows automatically downloading the software drivers for the sensor as soon as it is plugged in. Then, effectively, it will boast exactly the same functionality as the Kinect for Windows sensor.

Microsoft is pushing Kinect as a tool for commercial and enterprise use also releasing third-party apps in the Windows Store for consumer use

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Today, alongside the adapter, Microsoft launched an SDK 2.0 for Windows, along with a host of apps aimed enhancing body tracking, object recognition and gesture control.

“These updates are all part of our goal to make Kinect accessible and easy to use for every developer,” said Microsoft’s Alex Kipman in a blog post.

“We created Kinect as a way to make computer interaction more intuitive and to address an increasing desire for technology to be more accessible. We are seeing a lot of interest from businesses to bring interactive experiences to their customers that allow people to interact naturally with technology by simply gesturing and speaking.

“Now, with the ability to commercially deploy the latest Kinect technology in a variety of industries and environments, there is a big opportunity for developers to meet the demand.”